Protocadherin α gene cluster is required for myelination and oligodendrocyte development

This work used Immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of myelin basic protein and accumulation of oligodendrocytes in Pchdα knockout and control littermate mice. Data showed that in Pchdα knockout mice, Myelin proteins decrease in the central nervous system and mature oligodendrocytes in the cerebellum also decrease. Furthermore, deletion of the Pcdhα cluster does not cause any change to the axons and astrocytes in quantification of relative marker proteins. These findings suggest that the Pcdhα cluster may be required for myelination and oligodendrite development of the brain in mice, and that Pcdhα cluster may play a key role in the development of the central nervous system.